TPWD 1954 F-3-R-1 #102: Basic Survey of Fish Species in Lake Palestine: Fisheries Investigations and Surveys of the Waters of Region 3-B

--- Page 1 --- As required by FEDERAL AID IN FISHERIES RESTORATION ACT TEXAS Federal Aid Project No, F-3-R-10 Fisheries Investigations and Surveys of the Waters of Region 3-B Job No. B-19 Basic Survey of Fish Species in Lake Palestine Project Leader John N, Dorchester J. Weldon Watson Executive Director Parks and Wildlife Department Austin, Texas Marion Toole Eugene A, Walker D-J Coordinator Director, Program Planning November 6, 1963 --- Page 2 --- ABSTRACT Lake Palestine is a newly impounded reservoir containing 6,000 surface acres, The project was constructed by the Upper Neches River Municipal Water Authority. A year-long basic survey was conducted, using experimental type gill nets, bag seines and liquid rotenone. Fifty-one species of fish were collected, including adequate numbers of important sport and commercial species. Submerged aquatic vegetation is the only major problem foreseen in the future of the lake. Failure to properly clear certain areas of the lake of brush and timber has enabled the plants to maintain a rapid growth rate. Recommen- dations are made to resurvey the lake at bimonthly intervals during the coming segment. --- Page 3 --- SEGMENT COMPLETION REPORT State of TEXAS Project No, _F-3-R-10 Name: Fisheries Investigations and Surveys of the Waters of Region 3-B. Job No. B-19 Title: Basic Survey of Fish Species in Lake Palestine Period Covered: February 1, 1962 - January 31, 1963 Objectives: To gather fundamental data on this newly impounded reservoir located on the Neches River in regard to its physical, chemical and biological aspects. To de- termine the growth rates and food of game species stocked. To observe the influx of other fish species and to record chemical changes, if any, of the water. To observe any influx of noxious vegetation and to control same under Job S-1l if necessary. History: Lake Palestine is now in the second stage of a three stage project constructed by the Upper Neches River Municipal Water Authority. The project was authorized by the Texas State Board of Water Engineers on July 12, 1956. Stage one, which was the aquisition of the dam site and the engineering, was begun in 1956. Stage two, which consisted of the construction of the present dam was begun June 1, 1960, and was scheduled for completion on January 1, 1962. The earth filled dam is located near Blackburn Crossing, which is approximately 4 miles east of Frankston, The dam has a height of 48 feet above the stream bed and a length of 4,000 feet. The upstream slope of the dam is protected from erosion by rip~rap. The dam has an uncontrolled spillway 500 feet in width. The top eleva- tions of the dam and spillway from mean sea level are 343 feet and 322 feet, respectively, Water was impounded in the winter of 1961-62, Lake Palestine, at its present second stage level, covers 6,000 surface acres and 60,000 acre feet of water. Procedure: A collecting trip was planned each month for 10 months beginning in February, 1962. A trip was made each month with the exception of November. Data collected each month included gill netting results, seining collections, water analysis, temperature, turbidity readings and general weather conditions. --- Page 4 --- Netting Methods Sixteen experimental type gill nets were set each month, with the ex- ception of December, when only 14 nets were set. The nets were set at 12 random locations each month. Eight of these nets were 8 feet deep and eight were 6 feet in depth. All of the nets were 125 feet in length with mesh sizes oF: 1, Te, 2; 2% and 3 inches arranged in 25 foot sections. The nets were set in the evening and picked up the following morning. A total of 120 sets were made, consisting of 158 sets. All netted fish were separated according to species, then counted and weighed. The game fish were individually weighed and measured for standard length. Their sexual condition and stomach contents were also recorded. Co- efficients of condition ("K" factors) of the game fish were calculated. The average lengths, weights and condition factors were calculated according to species. Seining Seining collections were made with a 26 by 6 foot bag seine with 1/4 inch mesh and a 15 by 4 foot bag seine with 1/8 inch mesh. Seining was done at random, but old road beds leading into the lake were senerally seined because they were free of brush and provided good seining collections. Rotenone During the months of June, July, August, September and October, liquid rotenone was applied to a small area as an additional means of collection. The rotenone was applied to the same area each month, a creek entrance on the west side of the lake approximately 1/4 mile above the dam. One quart of liquid Pro-Nox Fish was applied to each collection. The water was then agi- tated with outboard motors to disperse the chemical. As the fish began to surface, they were picked up with landing nets, buckets and even hands. Many specimens were also recovered from the bottom in shallow water. The surface area treated was approximately 2000 square feet, but the creek bed formed a deep channel, thus making a relatively high number of cubic feet of water as compared to the surface area. This depth, no dcubt, enabled some fish to escape the chemical by swimming out into the lake proper. Findings: Stocking The following fish were put in the lake by the Tyler Fish Hatchery: Largemouth bass (fry) (Micropterus salmoides) 750,000 Warmouth (goggle-eye) (Chaenobryttus sulosus) 10,000 Redear sunfish (Lepomis microlophus) 32,000 Redbrest sunfish (Lepomis auritus) 16,000 Black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus) 5,006 Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) 164,000 --- Page 5 --- Fish Collections A total of 51 species, representing 14 families was collected from lake Palestine as shown in Table 1 and Table 2. Netting A total of 3,263 fish made up of 29 species was collected from Lake Palestine by netting. The spotted gar (Lepisosteus oculatus) was the most numerous species netted with a total of 497 (15.23 per cent). Black bullheads (Ictalurus melas) were the second most numerous species netted. Other numerous species of rough fish netted were gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum), smallmouth buffalo (Ictiobus bubalus), and bowfin (Amia calva). Rough fish are defined as any species other than those ordinarily sought by sport fishermen. The most numerous game fish species netted was the channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus). A total of 242 (7.42 per cent) channel catfish were caught. Their weight averaged 1.77 pounds. Table 3 gives the complete netting results for each months collection. Table 4 indicates the condition of the more important game fish species netted from Lake Palestine. In general, the coefficient of condition ("K" factor) for each species is good. This indicates that the existing game fish populations are in good balance with their food supplies. The length and weight ranges in milli - meters for each species also indicated that the growth rates are adequate. Seining Collections Ten seining collections were made, consisting of 115 seine drags. A total of 6,390 specimens were collected, representing 39 species. Table 5 shows the numbers of each species caught during each collection as well as the total number caught each month. Rotenone Collections Twenty-six species of fish were collected by the use of liquid rotenone. There were some species causht by this method that were not taken by netting or seining. Table 6 gives the methods by which each species was collected each month, Food Most of the fish stomachs that were examined contained some type of food. The most numerous food item found during the spring months was crayfish. Many bass and catfish stomachs contained small crayfish. This was true of the majority of bowfin stomachs also. This high frequency of crayfish was undoubtedly due to the recent flooding of the river bottom which exposed the crustaceans to the fish. --- Page 6 --- Il. III. IV. VI. VIL. VIII. IX. Xx. Table 1. A checklist of Lake Palestine fish species Family: PETROMYZONTIDAE - lampreys 1. Ichthy.omyzon castaneus - chestnut lamprey Family: LEPISOSTEIDAE - gars 2. 3. Lepisosteus oculatus - spotted gar L. osseus - longnose gar Family: AMIIDAE - bowfin 4. Amia calva - bowfin Family: CLUPEIDAE - herrings 5. Dorosoma cepedianum - gizzard shad Family: ESOCIDAE - pickerels 6. Esox americanus - grass pickerel Family: CATOSTOMIDAE - suckers and buffalofishes 7. 8. 9. 10. ll. 12. Ictiobus cyprinellus - bigmouth buffalo I. bubalus - smallmouth buffalo Carpiodes carpio - river carpsucker Moxostoma poecilurum - blacktail redhorse Minytrema melanops - spotted sucker Erimyzon sucetta - lake chubsucker Family: CYPRINIDAE - shiners and minnows 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. Cyprinus carpio - carp Notemigonus crysoleucas - golden shiner Notropis atherinoides - emerald shiner N. £fumeus - ribbon shiner texanus - weed shiner potteri - chub shiner venustus - spottail shiner . stramineus - sand shiner . volucellus - mimic shiner imephales vigilax - parrot minnow Izlzlzlaiz td Family: AMELURIDAE - freshwater catfishes 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. Ict#turus punctatus - channel catfish I. melas - black bullhead I. natalis - yellow bullhead Pylodictis olivaris - flathead catfish Schilbeodes gyrinus - tadpole madtom Family: CYPRINODONTIDAE - killifishes and topminnows 28. Fundulus chrysotus - golden topminnow 29. F. notatus - blackstripe topminnow Family: POECILIIDAE = mosquitofishes 30. Gambusia affinis - mosquitofish --- Page 7 --- Xl. Family: ATHERINIDAE - silversides lie Labidesthes sicculus - brook silversides XIL. Family: CENTRARCHIDAE - black basses and sunfishes 32. 33% 42. 43. 44. Micropterus punctulatus - spotted bass M. salmoides - largemouth bass Chaenobryttus gulosus - warmouth Lepomis cyanellus - green sunfish - punctatus - spotted sunfish - microlophus - redear sunfish » Macrochirus - bluegill sunfish - auritus -redbreast sunfish - megalotis - longear sunfish Pomoxis annularis - white crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus - black crappie Centrarchus macropterus - flier Elassoma zonatum - banded pigmy sunfish Im ee ie ie XIII. Family: PERCIDAE - perches and darters Hadropterus scierus - dusky darter H. shumardi - river darter Percina caprodes - logperch Ammocrypta vivax - scaly sand darter Etheostoma chlorosomum - bluntnose darter E. gracile - slough darter XIV. Family: SCIAENIDAE - croakers, drums and weakfishes 51. Aplodinotus grunniens - freshwater drum --- Page 8 --- 10. LL. 12, 13. 14. 15. 16. -6- Table 2. Annotated Checklist of Fish Species Ichthyomyzon castaneus - chestnut lamprey. Five lampreys were collected in February and March. Lepisosteus oculatus - spotted gar. The spotted gar was the most numerous species collected by netting. Lepisosteus osseus - longnose gar. Only 15 longnose gar were netted. Amia calva - bowfin. Large schools of young bowfin were observed and many were netted. In May there were an estimated 1,200 bowfin fingerlings collected in one seine haul. Dorosoma cepedianum - gizzard shad. A good shad population is established in the lake. Esox americanus - grass pickerel - Only a few of this species were taken by nets but several were collected by seining. Ictiobus cyprinellus - bigmouth buffalo. Although not as numerous as the smallmouth buffalo, this species is fairly common. Ictiobus bubalus - smallmouth buffalo. A large number of this species was caught during February and March. The numbers caught declined greatly but increased again in the following fall. Carpiodes carpio - river carpsucker. This species was collected only during the summer months. Moxostoma poecilurum - blacktail redhorse. A few of these suckers were col- lected during the winter. Minytrema malanops - spotted sucker. Except for the buffalo, this was the most numerous sucker collected. Erimyzon sucetta - lake chubsucker. A large number of chubsuckers were netted in December. Cyprinus carpio - carp. Although netted consistantly, most of the carp were caught during the summer months. Notemigonus crysoleucas - golden shiner. A few golden shiners were netted but the majority was collected by seining. Notropis atherinoides - emerald shiner. This species was collected during the month of March. Notropis fumeus - ribbon shiner. The ribbon shiner was collected in February and April. --- Page 9 --- LJ 18, 19, 20, 21, 22. 23; 24, 29.6 26, 27. 28. 295 30. 31. 32. 33) 34. 35%. -7- Notropis texanus - weed shiner. This shiner was collected in June with rotenone, Notropis potteri - chub shiner. The chub shiner was collected in May. Notropis venustus - spottail shiner. This was the most commonly collected shiner. Notropis stramineus - sand shiner. The sand shiner was collected in winter and spring. Notropis volucellus - mimic shiner. The mimic shiner was collected on three trips. Pimephales vigilax - parrot minnow. This species was taken in February and May. Ictalurus punctatus - channel catfish. The channel catfish was the most numerous game fish collected. Ictalurus melas - black bullhead. One hundred and sixty black bullheads were netted in December, which was the largest number collected in one month. Ictalurus natalis - yellow bullhead. Although not as numerous as the black bullhead, this species was netted consistantly. Pylodictis olivaris - flathead catfish. A total of twelve flatheads was taken during the year. Schilbeodes gyrinus - tadpole madtom. One madtom was collected in September with rotenone. Fundulus chrysotus - golden topminnow. This species was collected on three occasions, Fundulus notatus - blackstripe topminnow. The blackstripe topminnow is common in the lake. Gambusia affinis - mosquitofish This species was collected rather consistently. Labidesthes sicculus - brook silversides. This species was collected by both seining and rotenone, Micropterus punctulatus - spotted bass. All of the spotted bass caught were in very good condition. Micropterus salmoides - largemouth bass. This important game fish species is growing rapidly and is very numerous, Chaenobryttus gulosus - warmouth. A total of forty-one warmouths was netted. Lepomis cyanellus - green sunfish. This species, collected during the summer, is rather scarce, --- Page 10 --- 36. 37. 38. 39. 40, 41, 42, 43, Ad, 45. 46, 47. 48, 49, 50. 51. Lepomis punctatus - spotted sunfish. Only twenty-one spotted sunfish were collected, Lepomis microlophus - redear sunfish. Only eight redear were caught. Lepomis macrochirus - bluegill sunfish. This was the most numerous sunfish collected, Lepomis auritus - redbreast sunfish. The redbreast sunfish was collected on occasions, Lepomis megalotis - longear sunfish. Only a few of this species were collected. Pomoxis annularis - white crappie. A total of nine white crappie was netted. Pomoxis nigromaculatus - black crappie. This species was netted consistently in small numbers; however, several hundred fingerlings were collected with rotenone, Centrarchus macropterus - flier. This species was collected in large numbers during May and June. Elassoma zonatum - banded pigmy sunfish. This species was collected in small numbers during the winter months. Hadropterus scierus - dusky darter. Only one dusky darter was collected. Hadropterus shumardi - river darter. Thirty-five river darters were collected in April. Percina caprodes - log perch, One specimen of this species was collected with rotenone. Ammocrypta vivax - scaly sand darter. Twenty scaly sand darters were collected, Etheostoma chlorosomum - bluntnose darter. Seven of this species were collected in February. Etheostoma gracile - slough darter. Sixty-five slough darters were seined in May. Aplodinotus grunniens - freshwater drum. 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May 1 2 1,265* 37 26 12 89 8 68 185 ll = 659 5 2 17 75 20 261 33 21 8 406 53 3 12 2 133 9 524 101 10 ll 35 3 65 1,339 2,833 13 13 alt= June ee ee Ww ll 95 19 152 Jul. tS 20 113 15 Tabulation of seining collections from Lake Palestine Aug. Sept. Oct. Dec, 6 1 1 1 51 3 63 2 1 63 i3 1 1 23 1 1 7 d 4 2 2 5 4 1 4 3 1 6 1 ll 23 2 142 36 80 57 13 9 9 9 Total 1 1, 267% 10 108 1 13 1 1 91 5 18 68 381 1,241 13 3 1 18 10 230 1,133 49 27 559 3 5 64 48 59 17 2 144 625 40 41 20 65 6,390 115 --- Page 14 --- wife Table 6. A checklist of Lake Palestine fish species showing methods of collection Times Species Feb. Mar. Apr. May June Jul. Aug. Sept. Oct. Dec. Coll. Chestnut lamprey N N 2 Spotted gar N N NS N N N N N N 9 Longnose gar N N N N N N N 7 Bowfin N N NS NS NR NR NR N N N 19 Gizzard shad N N N N NR WSR NSR NR NR N 10 Grass pickerel Ss S S NS NSR S R SR S S- 19 Bigmouth buffalo N N N SR N N 6 Smallmouth buffalo N N N N N N NS N N N 10 River carpsucker S NSR N N 4 Blacktail redhorse N N N 3 Spotted sucker N N N N NR N N N N N 10 Lake chubsucker N s N N N 5 Carp N N N NSR N N N N N 9 Golden shiner S N N NS R N N N N 9 Emerald shiner S 1 Ribbon shiner S S 2 Weed shiner R 1 Chub shiner S 1 Spottail shiner Ss s s S S S s S S 9 Sand shiner s ) S Ss 4 Mimic shiner s S R 3 Parrot minnow S Ss 2 Channel catfish N N N N N N N N N N 10 Black bullhead N N N N N N N NS N 9 Yellow bullhead N N N NS NSR N N N N N 10 Flathead catfish N N N N N 5 Tadpole madtom R i Golden topminnow S S S 3 Blackstripe topminnow S&S S S S S ) S SR 8 Mosquito fish s S S) S R S Ss S) 8 Brook silversides S s R S 4 Spotted bass N NS NSR NS NSR NS N 7 Largemouth bass N N NS NSR NSR_ NSR NSR NSR NS 9 Warmouth NS N N N N N N S 8 Green sunfish R N SRR 4 Spotted sunfish S S N N N NS NSR Pi Redear sunfish S N NS S NS S N S 8 Bluegill sunfish NS S N NS NR N NS NS NSR NS 10 Redbreast sunfish N N NS NS N N N Zz Longear sunfish N N 2 White crappie S NR N N N 5 Black crappie N N NS NSR NS NSR NR N N 9 Flier S S R R R 5 Dusky darter S R 2 River darter S s 2 Logperch R i Scaly sand darter S S 2 Bluntnose darter S 1 Slough darter s 1 Freshwater drum N N N N N N N N N 9 Total No. of species 29 26 30 31 39 27 25 29 24 24 N denotes species taken by netting S denotes species taken by seining R denotes species taken by rotenoning --- Page 15 --- -13- Seining collections and stomach analysis indicate that there is also a good supply of forage fish in Lake Palestine. Many game fish stomachs contained various types of fish remains, Game and Rough Fish Ratio During the year, 13 game fish species and 17 rough fish species were netted. Out of 3,217 individual specimens collected, 890 were game fish and 2,327 rough fish. By per cent this was 27.67 per cent game fish and 72.33 per cent rough fish. The percentage by weight ran almost identical to the per cent by number, being 26.63 per cent game fish and 73.37 per cent rough fish. From the large numbers of largemouth bass and black crappie fry seined and netted during the spring and summer months there is a good indication that a heavy natural stocking of the lake was in progress. Although bass and crappie fry were released only at the State Highway 155 crossing by hatchery personnel, good seining collections were made on practically the same dates on all areas of the lake. This would indicate that the fish collected by seining were natural rather than hatchery stock. Fishing Success Lake Falestine was officially opened to the public for fishing during the early part of the summer, 1962. Fishing pressure has increased throughout the summer and fall. Bass fishing has been very good and many fishermen caught their limits of the yearling largemouths. In fact, for awhile, limit catches were the rule instead of the exception. Several trotline fishermen also reported good catches of channel catfish. The data compiled in this report indicates that large populations of large- mouth bass and channel catfish are now established in the lake, With the rapid growth rates both species are maintaining, fishing should improve even more in the near future. Table 7 consists of the individual standard lengths in milli- meters of some largemouth bass chosen at random. The average monthly increase in length indicates the rapid growth this species has maintained. Fublic access to the lake is only fair. There is only one permanent boat launching ramp, which is located at the dam. At its present second stage level, the lake has numerous dirt roads leading to it which make natural boat launching sites. However, when the much larger third stage reservoir is completed, the majority of these roads will be completely submerged. Water Quality Analysis of surface water samples from Lake Palestine indicates that the water quality is fairly stable. The water is moderately acid, but about normal in alkilinity and chlorides. The water was generally clear throughout the year but contained a brown stain, evidently from the newly flooded timber and leaves. Table 8 contains data for each months water analysis. --- Page 16 --- -14- Table 7. Standard lengths (millimeters) of individual largemouth bass from Lake Palestine May June July August September October December 69 113 67 220 235 225 352 61 113 138 225 274 215 272 64 107 140 199 220 235 257 61 110 146 220 219 240 257 63 112 132 200 212 230 255 82 200 177 255 230 240 256 64 100 142 200 230 250 256 64 112 78 155 232 245 240 62 82 75 155 230 220 240 68 92 75 205 215 235 235 49 77 83 210 230 224 58 94 73 170 211 238 63 92 77 205 226 51 87 77 180 208 49 81 72 209 210 54 70 73 215 228 63 69 71 210 220 49 63 55 192 207 57 66 64 205 215 46 58 64 202 222 46 55 56 190 220 42 47 63 201 218 56 60 210 231 58 63 204 237 58 50 200 228 51 102 198 63 58 168 47 65 48 60 55 47 55 71 Ave. Length (mm.) 57.29 86.36 83.03 199.78 224, 32 233.50 256.83 Average Monthly Increase - 32.56 millimeters --- Page 17 --- -15- 79°67 - 97°SE eSuUPI “TD 06 - Oy e8uer ‘dwey aty bl - y% esuei AYIptqiny Oyo - ZZ e8uel “ATV 06 - Gh e8uei ‘duey 199eM O’L - ¥°9 asuer yd Ov cS 9€ 9€ (43 9¢ 7¢ Oe aL Ov 87 CISTtd Fyooes ) (seyout) Atptqany VL 9S G9 G8 06 06 06 GL 9” OL do ainjeisdwey, aty cL 6% OL 8 98 98 06 OL cv 6S Ay ainjereduay 197em 6£°6E 97 °SE 97°SE 97°SE O7°SE 97°SE 97°SE 79°6% SS°C7 79°67 ‘w'd'd saptsoTy9 S*ZE O€ SE 9£ o€ 94 SE SE 72 cz rwrd'd('O'W) AITUTTBXTY 8°9 8°9 9°9 ore 8°9 8°9 8°9 o°L 9°9 7°9 Hd aseieAy AeqWaoeq 1eqoj0Q Jequaqdas ysndny Inf oun @W Ttady yosrep Areniqeg i ——— aUTASeTeg aye] wor1z stskyTeue 194eM soOBJANS uO BIeG °g eTqel --- Page 18 --- -16- Vegetation Submerged aquatic vegetation is soon to be a major problem on Lake Palestine. During August of 1962 filamentous algae (Cladophora sp.) was observed in many areas of the lake and by September other forms of submerged vegetation were becoming well established, In December navigation by outboard powered boats was very difficult in some areas due to the thick "moss". These areas of thick infestation are largely in those areas that were not cleared of timber and brush and in the few areas where some of the timber was cut but left laying where it fell. Boat operation in all areas of this lake is hazardous, even in the area de- signated for skiing, due to submerged obstacles. If clearing of timber is to be limited by economics then the clearing should be done from the shoreline out toward the middle of the lake instead of clearing a strip down the middle and leaving the edges standing. Contrary to popular belief, netting records indicate that more fish are taken in open water than in the protected areas. That area of the upper end of Lake Palestine where State Highway 155 crosses is a prime example of poor management. The natural brush was untouched and hence there has been a build up of Lemma minor to an extent that it looks like a green carpet as far as the eye can see, which actually isn't very far. This area is completely lost to fishing from the shore and also by boat because it is impossible to get a boat through the thick brush. Aquatic vegetation found in Lake Palestine is as follows: Duck weed Lemna minor Coontail Ceratophylum demersum Bladderwort Utricularia sp. Pondweed (narrow and broad leaf) Potomogeton sp. Filamentous algae Cladophora sp. To this date there has been no emergent vegetation observed other than black willow (Salix niger). Conclusions and Recommendations: Considering the data compiled during this survey, Lake Palestine should support a good sport fishery and a good commercial fishery as well. (Most of the lake is closed to commercial fishing). The water quality of the lake is adequate and there is a good supply of forage fish available. It is recommended that this lake be surveyed bimonthly during the next segment in order to maintain an accurate record of the lakes progress. It is evident that aquatic vegetation is going to become a major problem in Lake Palestine. ¢ fo Prepared by Joe_E. Toole Approved by Y y ba soeittn, ty parle Asst. Project Leader ' Coordinator Date November 6, 1963 Charles E. Gra Regional Supervisor --- Page 19 --- =17= Figure 1. Young bowfin collected by seining. Note ruler for size comparison. Figure 2. Note the good condition of these largemouth bass fry. --- Page 20 --- -~18- Figure 3. Typical example of heavy timber and brush left standing in the lake. Figure . Good fly fishing territory! (All Photos by John N. Dorchester)